Performance characterization of the Life Signature Detection polarimeter (LSDpol)
- Paper number
IAC-21,A7,3,7,x66341
- Author
Ms. Mariya Krasteva, The Netherlands, Leiden University
- Coauthor
Ms. Willeke Mulder, The Netherlands, Leiden University
- Coauthor
Prof.Dr. Christoph Keller, The Netherlands, Leiden University
- Coauthor
Dr. Frans Snik, The Netherlands, Leiden University
- Coauthor
Dr. Lucas Patty, Switzerland, University of Bern
- Coauthor
Ms. Dora Klindžić, The Netherlands, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Mr. Jerre Sweers, The Netherlands
- Coauthor
Dr. Thomas Wijnen, The Netherlands, International Space University
- Coauthor
Mr. David Doelman, The Netherlands, Leiden University
- Coauthor
Mrs. Vidhya Pallichadath, The Netherlands, Delft Institute Of Technology (TU Delft)
- Coauthor
Prof. Brice-Olivier Demory, Switzerland, University of Bern
- Coauthor
Dr. Jonas Kühn, Switzerland, University of Bern
- Coauthor
Dr. Jens Hoeijmakers, The Netherlands, University of Bern
- Coauthor
Dr. Antoine Pommerol, Switzerland, University of Bern
- Coauthor
Dr. Olivier Poch, France, Institut de Planet. et d’Astrophysique de Grenoble IPAG/PLANETO
- Year
2021
- Abstract
We present the performance characterization of the Life Signature Detection polarimeter (LSDpol), a prototype instrument designed to identify life on Earth and derive the integrated signal of Earth-as-an-exoplanet through global polarization measurements from the Airbus Bartolomeo platform on the International Space Station (ISS). LSDpol is optimized for the measurement of an unambiguous biomarker exhibited by chlorophyll and other bio-pigments: homochirality. The instrument is very sensitive to small signals in circular polarization induced by this preference in handedness found in biological molecules. LSDpol has the capability of measuring full Stokes parameters as a function of wavelength while containing no moving parts and a compact design suitable for SmallSats. The point-and-shoot configuration of this instrument uses a patterned liquid crystal spatial polarization modulator at the slit followed by a quarter wave retarder and a liquid crystal polarization grating. This combination decouples the faint circular and strong linear polarization signals through spatial modulation making it insensitive to cross-talk. In this paper we present detailed simulations and results from the performance characterization of LSDpol. We discuss the current design and the impact of instrumental artefacts such as distortions, flat field, and retardation errors in the quarter-waveplate based on simulations of the spatial modulation. Additionally, the LSDpol performance is compared against two other instruments optimized for measurements of circular and linear polarization. Our study looks at the instruments' capabilities outdoors and in the laboratory. Abiotic data from artificial vegetation and concrete are used as a control against the leaf measurements of interest. Preliminary results from beetles, leaves and grass demonstrate the current capabilities of LSDpol. This versatile instrument concept will be ideally suited for remote sensing of homochirality, enabling vegetation health monitoring on Earth and detection of biotic signatures on icy moons.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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